Tucson lawmaker's legislation is a key part of sweeping legislation to stop global warming and reduce American dependence on foreign oil
WASHINGTON, D.C. – - U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ first solar energy bill was approved today by the House of Representatives as part of a comprehensive package of legislation aimed at stopping global warming and reducing American dependence on foreign oil.
Giffords’ Solar Energy Research and Advancement Act of 2007, a key part of the New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security and Consumer Protection Act of 2007, will assist the private and public sectors in harnessing the power of the sun and increasing the nation’s use of renewable energy.
“Today Congress took a bold step towards creating cleaner energy for America,” said Giffords, a member of the House Science and Technology Committee. “Tapping solar power will help shape our future. Arizona, with its abundant sunshine, can and must be a leader in solar energy.”
William Harris, President of Science Foundation Arizona, praised the congresswoman’s efforts, saying her “serious commitment to energy independence and innovation is the key to a resurgence of American ingenuity.”
Giffords bill was prepared in consultation with her Solar Energy Advisory Council, a group of 25 scientists, engineers, business leaders and environmentalists from Southern Arizona. It calls for:
- A program to create and strengthen solar industry workforce training and internship programs to ensure that current and future employees obtain the necessary skills to install, operate and maintain solar energy products;
- A nationwide initiative for private industry and public agencies to demonstrate advanced solar photovoltaic technology. All states, such as Arizona, that submit qualified proposals can receive this funding to advance the commercial application of solar technology;
- The creation of a research and development program into thermal energy storage technologies for concentrating solar power – the use of mirrors to convert the sun’s heat into electricity. The focus of the program will be on how to improve storage technology so that solar energy can be used to generate electricity at night and on cloudy days;
- A report on the integration of concentrating solar power plants and regional electricity transmission systems, including how to send electricity from high solar resource areas such as Arizona to areas with less solar power;
- An analysis of how to reduce the amount of water consumed by concentrating solar power systems;
- Research and development for solar lighting technology, such as solar light pipes, which is a method of transferring sunlight into interior spaces that are far from windows; and
- Research and development for solar air conditioning technology.
The solar energy provisions of the New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security and Consumer Protection Act were further strengthened today by Giffords with the addition of her amendment that promotes greater consumer awareness of solar technologies. The amendment, adopted by the House Rules Committee on Thursday and the full House this afternoon, calls for the creation of a Solar Energy Industries Research and Promotion Board that is modeled on the National Dairy Board, which created the effective “Got Milk?” campaign.
“Every option to promote solar energy should be on the table,” said Giffords. “And all solar energy technologies should be promoted if we are to realize the full potential of this vast resource.”
Giffords’ bill was supported by the Solar Energy Industries Association, the Interstate Renewable Energy Council and the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners. The Tucson lawmaker’s leading role as a champion of solar energy is winning positive attention across the board.
Leslie Liberti, director of the City of Tucson’s Office of Conservation and Sustainable Development, said that decreasing our reliance on fossil fuels is essential to preserving our strong local economy and quality of life. “With such abundant sunshine in southern Arizona, we must explore ways to effectively and efficiently exploit this resource,” she said. “Congresswoman Giffords' Solar Energy Initiative has jump-started this dialogue by bringing together solar experts and community leaders in a collaborative discussion of how best to capitalize on southern Arizona's solar assets.
Tucson Vice Mayor Shirley C. Scott lauded Giffords’ leadership role in promoting solar energy as a way to foster American energy independence. “Working in the City of Tucson’s first solar municipal building – the Ward IV City Council Office, has reaffirmed to me the necessity of striving for energy independence in our country,” Scott said. “Through the forward-thinking leadership of Congresswoman Giffords, we must look for ways where we can economically use the resources we have, particularly those relating to solar power, to produce energy for our consumption.”
And Eric A. Betterton, a University of Arizona professor who leads the Department of Atmospheric Sciences and is director of the Institute of Atmospheric Physics, called solar energy “the ultimate renewal energy source.” He said “Arizona can be proud of Congresswoman Giffords leadership in energy issues, particularly solar energy research and development.”